The
first time novelist might be confused by a revolution in book publishing. An
endless choice of publishing companies may leave the head a-spin on where to
have your book published. What is the best way to get your book published without
being ripped off or stung?
Difference
between Mainstream Publishing and Vanity Publishing
The
traditional route of finding a literary agent willing to sell your book to a
mainstream publisher was once every writer’s dream. Now the writer has more
choice. So what is the difference between traditional publishing, vanity
publishing and self-publishing?
Traditional
publishers such as Penguin, Random House and Harper Collins publish books to
sell to the public. Vanity publishers publish books to sell to the author.
Self
publishing, explained in more detail in a moment, is do it yourself publishing
to sell to the public.
Finding
a Good Book Publisher
Traditional
publishing houses will take the financial burden of publishing your book,
employing editors, designers and market gurus in-house. They will also assign
ISBNs and distribute your book for profit to the publisher and royalty payments
to you. If your book is a success, your book may be translated into other
languages, an audio book made and who knows? The author doesn’t pay a penny.
What
is Vanity Publishing?
Now
for the type of publisher every writer should avoid at all costs.
Every
literary magazine is dotted with self publishing services offered by vanity
press that will publish your book for you in exchange for a fee. In return, the
writer will get hard copies of his book, an ISBN and in some cases, the book
will be formatted for Kindle and put on Amazon. Some vanity publishers will arrange
to have a book cover designed and put your book on their website. Writers
should beware of these self publishing companies!
Restrictions
of Vanity Publishers Contracts
Vanity
publishers require payment from you to publish your book. The author may have
to sign a contract that robs the author of creative control. Conditions may
restrict the author on font choice, the size of the book or design of the cover.
They may even ‘reject’ your work initially before referring your book to
another publisher after making recommendations. This ‘other publisher’ is
likely at the same address. Surprise, surprise, your book has been accepted.
The
author may believe that the vanity press exert these restriction for the
benefit of the author, but is in fact is for the benefit of the vanity
publisher. These restrictions are superficial ways of creating the illusion of
quality control, but this is an illusion. Vanity publishers don’t care what
they publish, so long as the writer pays up. The vanity press’s website will
also appear stocked with quality books, creating the illusion of a publisher to
be trusted.
Some
of these vanity publishers even have the cheek to boast ‘all copyright remains
with the author’. This should be a given.
Is
this Book Publishing Company to be Trusted?
Some
vanity publishers masquerade as a mainstream publisher or literary agent.
Vanity publishers may use a respectable or ‘arty’ establishment as a front,
pretending to have high connections and promises of backing this next ‘great
sensation.’ Boundaries become blurred. But if the author finds he has to part
with one penny for any reason, alarm bells should start ringing. This vanity
publisher has just revealed itself to be what it really is. A scam.
Difference
between Vanity Publishing and Self Publishing
A
further difference needs to be drawn between vanity publishing and self
publishing.
In
vanity publishing, the author hires a company to publish the book for him in
exchange for a fee. With self publishing, the author self publishes himself. As
can be seen on this blog, the author can self publish for free. I have provided
links on how to self publish without going near vanity publishers, waiting for
rejection letters from literary agents or parting with a penny.
The
Best Publishers for Self Publishing
If
the author cannot find a mainstream publisher, never fear, you can publish
yourself without paying a penny. But your book should be exceptional anyway.
This will clean up the reputation of the self published writer being
substandard. Never ever go near vanity press. The author would do better to
self publish alone. This blog shows you how via the links below.
Book
Printing on Demand Companies
On
demand printing is not the same as vanity publishers. Print on demand (or POD) are
simply printers that product copies of your book for you. They provide a clear service
for a fee. Print on demand is useful for authors who plan to hold an author event
and wish to sell books to potential readers. Vanity press will use print on demand
companies as part of their package. But the author would save money by approaching
POD companies directly.
Vanity
Publishing Scams
As
can be seen here, the first time author would benefit from knowing the
difference between mainstream publishing, vanity publishing and self
publishing.
One
day, vanity publishing might be squeezed out by the self publishing revolution.
Lessons might be learned by one such self-published writer who had gone the
vanity published route only to be dissatisfied with the quality of her book. The
company concerned charged a handsome sum to write a very poor blurb full of
typos on Amazon. If the writer wants any chance of being a successful self
published writer, take the time to learn to do it without having to pay a vanity
publisher.
Articles on how to Self Publish your Book
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